Minister promises to investigate NU member's death
Minister promises to investigate NU member's death
JAKARTA (JP): Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and
Security Soesilo Soedarman said yesterday that an East Java
Moslem's death in custody last week will be investigated.
Soesilo promised severe punishment for any official found
responsible for the suspicious death of Ahmad Sidik, a member of
the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Moslem organization from Situbondo.
"Whoever was involved in his death will be brought to trial,"
Soesilo announced.
Impartial investigation into Ahmad's death was demanded by NU
chief Abdurrahman Wahid, better known as Gus Dur. He sent a
petition to Armed Forces Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung Monday.
Gus Dur said Sidik died on Dec. 6 after being questioned at
the Situbondo military and police offices over his role in the
Oct. 10 religious riot in the town.
NU activists in East Java said that Ahmad died after being
seriously wounded. They said he had been tortured during the
investigation.
Ahmad was one of the 54 rioters arrested for allegedly
instigating the riot in the predominantly Moslem Situbondo, well
known for its reputable Islamic boarding schools.
The riots were sparked by Situbondo Moslems' anger over a jail
term requested by the prosecution for a Moslem sect member
standing trial on charges of blasphemy against Islam.
The angry mob took the law into their own hands because they
considered the five-year jail term requested for the accused,
Saleh, too lenient. People reportedly attempted to grab Saleh
from the police with the intention of killing him, but failed.
Twenty one churches, five Catholic elementary schools, one
Christian orphanage, two plazas, a court building, three cars and
five motorcycles were set ablaze or attacked during the riots.
Gus Dur also said two of the riot's alleged instigators are
also seriously ill after being questioned at the local security
headquarters.
Spokesman for the armed forces Brig. Gen. Amir Syarifuddin was
quoted by Merdeka daily as saying Monday that Ahmad died of
"illness" but he did not specify the disease.
Strong reaction to the news of Ahmad's dead also came from the
Indonesian Committee for Moslem Solidarity and the newly-
established Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association.
The solidarity leader, Ahmad Sumargono, warned that failure to
investigate Ahmad's death could anger Moslems from various
groups.
He demanded severe punishment for any officers found guilty of
torturing Ahmad. He called on the authorities to come out with
the motives behind incident.
Chairman of the Institute for the Defense of Human Rights
H.J.C. Princen also pressed the same demand.
"No torture is allowed during the questioning of a suspect or
a defendant. A person will remain innocent until the court rules
otherwise," Princen said quoting an article in the UN Convention
on Human Rights.
Meanwhile, chairman of the Center for Human Rights Information
and Education Agus Edi Santoso suggested an autopsy be performed
on Ahmad.
"An autopsy would give strong evidence on the cause of Ahmad's
death. This is important to avoid unnecessary controversy," he
said.
Agus sent his petition Monday to the Commander of the
Brawijaya Regional Military Command who oversees security in East
Java. Copies of the letter were made available to the press
yesterday.
The human rights activist also demanded the police repeal all
the police records on the questioning of Sidik, saying the
suspect had not been assisted by a lawyer in the interrogation.
"The procedure is against the law," he said. (imn)